KIRKCALDY Sheriff court heard how Kathleen Duncan, 44, forged receipts to pretend she was bringing her two ill children for treatment when neither had actually attended hospital.

A MOTHER of two ill children was yesterday facing jail after scamming more than £38,000 from the NHS for fake taxi journeys she claimed were to ferry them to hospital.

Kathleen Duncan submitted hundreds of faked taxi receipts for up to £160 a time, with forged drivers’ signatures, to NHS Fife “almost daily” over 13 months.

She even forged the signatures of NHS staff needed to confirm her attendance at hospital.

Duncan was then handed cash by NHS staff. Her crime was uncovered when the hospital had to increase the amount of money held in the cash room.

Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard two of her three children, Cody and McKayla, suffer from Hurler’s syndrome.

The rare condition leaves sufferers physically and mentally disabled, with most living an average of only 11 years.

The children both required regular hospital treatment.

Fiscal depute Dev Kapadia said Duncan was granted permission by NHS Fife to travel by taxi when bringing the children to, or visiting them at, Victoria Hospital or Forth Park Hospital in Kirkcaldy from her home in Dunfermline. She was told to claim the cost back.

After one of her children had a bone marrow transplant in Manchester in July 2010 their attendance at Victoria and Forth Park hospitals was less frequent.

But between May and August 2011, Duncan claimed for travel every day, despite neither child attending the hospitals.

Duncan, 44, now of South Queensferry, pleaded guilty to defrauding NHS Fife of £38,019 between August 1, 2010, and August 29, 2011. Sheriff Maxwell Hendry deferred sentence until next month for reports and released her on bail.

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